Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste nailed his colours to the mast at the end of August when he voiced his support for a new universal household charge, based on devices, to replace the television licence.

Such a charge would hit more households than the TV licence, would represent a new charge in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and would be every bit as regressive as the TV licence. We are in the run-up to a general election and the Tánaiste has flown a controversial kite that is up there now flapping around in the breeze. I am giving the Taoiseach the opportunity to shoot it down today. I will be interested in what he has to say on the matter.

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